By MICHAEL GUERIN
New Zealand's leading harness racing trainer, Mark Purdon, is leaving Auckland for Canterbury.
In a move that will stun the nation's harness racing industry, the 37-year-old is establishing a 30-strong stable 10 minutes from Christchurch Airport.
Purdon will still run an Auckland stable, but that will be controlled by his father, Roy, and brother-in-law, champion driver Tony Herlihy.
Mark Purdon and his wife, Vicky, will move south in May, when the new dual-stable operation will start.
"I see this as an expansion of the stable, but I must admit there will be some sadness in leaving Auckland and Alexandra Park behind," he said.
He worked for his father, who is regarded as New Zealand's greatest horse trainer, until five years ago, when he started his own stable.
He was instantly successful, training Il Vicolo to win two NZ Trotting Cups in his first two seasons.
After four years of finishing second on the trainers' premiership, he won it last season.
He is certain to repeat that this season because he has already trained 61 winners - 28 clear of his nearest rival.
With the racing season only half over, he is on target to join the elite group of trainers to prepare 100 winners in a season.
Purdon is notifying his owners about the move this weekend and will leave it to them to decide whether they send their horses south to be trained by him, leave them in the northern branch of the stable, or transfer them to another trainer.
"I just think it is time for a different challenge and I am looking forward to it," Purdon said.
Racing: Purdon heads for challenge in south
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